Jack is different. Not from just his age group, but from others as well. Cold, calculating, and tactical are but a few of the words used to describe him.

But when he is thrust into a new world, when he is attacked and nearly left to die by those who stand for love, tolerance, and friendship, what will happen from there?

Plans, power, corruption, and the seeds of a dark new age will be sewn. For such schemes are the ways of those who hide behind masks. Follow the story of Jack, and learn the Markings of a King.

You keep sayin' somethin' about bein' male and "human" before you showed up in Appleloosa. I'm not sure what you're talkin' about, stranger, but I can certainly tell you're pretty darn mad about what happened. Sit down a spell, will you? Tell me more about this "Trask" feller...

Cover art by Trinityinyang.

Living in Equestria under a false name and racial identity is one thing. Finding out you're not the only one of your kind stranded here is another... especially when that someone and the element bearers are looking for you.

Being my first attempt at a first-person romantic comedy, this takes a slightly different approach to the concept of being a human stranded in Equestria.

Enjoy.

Big thanks to DVAN56 for editing. Go check out his work!

Equestria is broken. An army is marching on Canterlot, and the city is alive with fire and the sounds of battle.

And when all hope seems lost, a dying Celestia is given one last choice.

Featured by the Royal Guard on 24th January, 2014!

Special thanks to Craine for help with suggestions and pre-reading.
Title shamelessly stolen from this awesome song.
Thanks to Sandara for the epic art.

Most zombies are terrifying creatures. Most zombies leave nothing behind but death and destruction.

Most zombies have never met Fluttershy.

A Crossover with the Darksiders Universe.

The number of the Horsemen shall ever be four.

Death, War, Strife and Fury.

Merciless, powerful and feared by many.

A cursed fusion of angel and demon. They had grown weary of the destruction of so many caused by their brethren. And so they turned upon the ancient Charred Council.

Thus, the Four Horsemen were born.

Join Death as he falls through the Well of Souls. Only to wake up in another world.

His siblings had somehow gotten involved. And so they followed him. Unknowingly.

The journey, so far...

**Author's Note**
A bit of gore here and there, but nothing that gruesome. But I put the tag to be safe.

This story is a sequel to The Crown of Night

Now available in print from Lulu.com! Hardcover - Paperback.

(New readers, unsure where to start? The Education of Clover the Clever is best.)

Clover Cordelia is a freshmare student at the Cambridle Academy of Magic who is determined to become a great sorceress.

Star Swirl the Bearded is a legendary wizard in need of an apprentice.

It's a tough job, working for the world's greatest wizard. On top of the usual challenges of student life there are apocalypses to deal with, and assassins who show up at inconvenient times, and plant life scheming for world conquest.

It's probably nothing Star Swirl can't take care of, provided he and Clover manage to resist killing each other first.

Previously updated alongside its prequel, The Crown of Night. It is not necessary to read The Crown of Night first.

Featured on Equestria Daily!
Featured on the Royal Guard!

Cover art by iisaw.

"Characterization is the name of the game here, and this story's take on Star Swirl is one of the most enigmatic and intriguing I've seen. His eccentricity is offset perfectly by his straight mare, Clover the Clever, and the interactions between them are a joy to behold."
-Prak, PR for the Royal Guard.

Rated "Why Haven't You Read These Yet?" by PaulAsaran.

Weird praise for The Education of Clover the Clever from the comments:

"........The sadist in me is grinning while the student is screaming it's little lungs out "
-Smirkythread.

"I can't tell if he's insane or not. And it's glorious."
-FancyFan.

"I am unsure if this is merely silly and deranged or subtly brilliant."
-SIGAWESOME.

"Ok, so I like this story. I actually like it quite a bit. I have no clue why though. Not a single clue.
I haven't a clue what you're doing right, but keep doing it. You're awesome."
-Vibrato con Amore.

Tartarus is not a fun place to be, and she would know, she's the one who was wrongly sentenced here along with hundreds of other creatures. Celestia could say whatever she wanted, but they knew Celestia was in the wrong, they had done nothing but follow their instincts. Could you really blame a creature for doing that?

Humanized Eris X Discord.

So the dogs had gotten rid of that whining, crying pony that drove them all up the walls. Everyone was happy, they got to be left alone and made sure to keep a wide berth from ponyfolk from now on. But then the most sacred thing a dog has got threatened. Their homes, their families, their pack. With everything at stake and an enemy that is way beyond what they have any hope of taking on they must make a deal with the devil, they must get Rarity's help.

But is the price for their pack's safety too high, even for them?

Knowing how vindictive Rarity can be, probably.

When Twilight comes back from her week long visit to her brother's house, she finds out that everything has changed. Canterlot High is babbling about some magic girl from another world, but Twilight knows better. There's no such thing as magic, or portals into other worlds.

Right?

EDIT: Wow. Never expected the feature. And by the way, thank you for anyone who commented with a consructive criticism. I'll be reading as many as I can and keeping them all in mind for the future chapters as well as going back to edit the past ones periodically. Enjoy the story!

EDIT 2: Went into the first chapter and tried to fix up the 'Twilight did X' issue that many people commented on. (Thank you to those who did.) Hopefully it is a bit more readable now.

EDIT 3: After fan feedback on a massive error I made where Princess Cadence was an out of control lunatic, I rewrote the Twilight meets Twilight scene so that it flows better and actually stays in character. Thank you for anyone who made a comment about this, I am listening to your feedback and writing my future chapters accordingly. (If there are any more of these, I'm going to keep these in a changelog in a blog post.)